Irish Whiskey Barley Question

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Bourbon_Greg
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Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by Bourbon_Greg »

I am going to try an Irish Whiskey but I am having trouble finding un-malted barley.

The local whole foods has "Pearl Barley" for $1.52 lb
The home brew shop has Roasted Barley, Barley Flakes and of course malted 2-row and 6-row

Can I use any of these?
ShineRunner
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by ShineRunner »

Feed store is the cheapest.

Roasted and such is malted and then roasted. Flaked barley is ready to rock, but feed store is cheapest.

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Bourbon_Greg
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by Bourbon_Greg »

If I use flaked, do I use it pound for pound vs whole grain?

Example... Does 1lb flaked = 1lb grain?
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Swedish Pride
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by Swedish Pride »

yeah if you can find a feed store they are much cheaper, but you can use flaked if you rather.
I don't think the weight difference would be huge.
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Bourbon_Greg
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by Bourbon_Greg »

I have called 3 feed stores and none have it right now. Do I need to worry about any chemicals with what the feed store would offer?
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by jb-texshine »

Cant tell you about chemicals on barley specifically but propionic acid is common on feed store grains as a preservative. Its only added in an ammount to prevend DAMP grains from molding or mildewing, not in sufficient ammounts to inhibit fermentation. The chicken scratch im using now has it in it and ive taken it to 9 generations as a sugarhead for example.
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shadylane
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by shadylane »

Bourbon_Greg wrote:Do I need to worry about any chemicals with what the feed store would offer?
You want untreated barley seed that will sprout.
Treated seed is supposed to be colored, for a warning.
As jb pointed out, Propionic acid is a food grade preservative
It only keeps the grain from molding
Lyonsie
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by Lyonsie »

Why do you want unmalted barley? Its a pita just buy it.
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frunobulax
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by frunobulax »

Just use all 2 row. It will be a light clean Irish whiskey.
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greggn
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Re: Irish Whiskey Barley Question

Post by greggn »

> The home brew shop has Roasted Barley, Barley Flakes and of course malted 2-row and 6-row


My one, and last, experience with flaked barley wasn't encouraging. It doesn't lauter well so it threw off my otherwise tried-and-true protocol. I'll not use it again.

Just get a lightly-malted 2-row and you'll be fine.
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